Adobe PDF support removed from Office 2007

People all over the globe rejoiced when Microsoft spread the word that Office 2007 would output directly in PDF format. Adobe has made PDF a standard format by opening it up and letting other companies work directly with the format but according to Microsoft’s Office program manager Brian Jones Adobe has kicked up a fuss and as a result Microsoft is dropping the PDF output feature in Office 2007. This is a blow to end-users and I don’t know what Adobe is thinking. It doesn’t help Adobe to have it removed and according to Mr. Jones Adobe wanted Microsoft to charge Office customers extra to have that functionality but Microsoft refused. The good news in this mess is Microsoft will make the “Save as PDF” feature available as a separate free download but it’s terrible that it will come to that. Shame on you, Adobe.